The truth why you will need more than a 144 sometimes!

[IceCap]

like i say this is a stupid topic because it turns into a pissing contest about what one person likes compared to another. everyone has different riding styles and preferences. i like short tracks have tried long ones im sure they have there place just not for me. and im sure some people would hate my short track or the bars i have no center strap or my riser is to far forward sway bar in sway bar out gas vs diesel ford versus chevy who cares. run what ya got and run it hard.

if someone wants to make a real decision he would need to ride a bunch of different brands in a varying track lengths and snow conditions to realy make an opnion. my last sled was a 151 i prefer the 146 i have now and cant imagine a bigger track but thats me not you. to say a short track cant rip in deep pow is rediculous and to say a long track cant boondock is equaly stupid.

and since when is a 146 track short? im thinking 120 length tracks when i think short

I am glad that you enjoy your SHORT 146" track. However the topic of this thread is The truth why a 144"track is just not enough. And if you rode Whistler B.C. area last saturday most riders found out why a 144" track is not enough.
ALL 151" and shorter tracks could not even get through the snow on the FLAT!

 

[PowderProject]

my 146" is all I ever need. Maybe if I could afford three sleds I would have 2 146" & 1 163"

 

[trials rider]

like you said most riders. im not sure ive ever been out were my sled wouldnt take me were i wanted to go if its that deep i proabably dont need to go to far from the parking lot to have fun anyway. i think it has a lot to do with power and rider ability i know the big tracks are better in the deep thats a given but saying there nescesary come on.

i see people with all kinds of sleds and track lengths stuck all over the place. i have one operational sled and one spare in the works the old one is a 151 and cant say i noticed much of a difference in any aspects of riding. now if were talking a long track with a turbo well hey thats what i want for those few days a year were i can hardly get my truck into the parking lot. but i cant understand how a long track is nescesary.

if conditions are so deep that youre worried about your group even being able to get out of there maybe you should be reassesing your plans and thinking about survival and picking a area more suited to the conditions.
no matter what length of track you have.

sounds like a sick day in whistler i think everywere in b.c. got hit hard
hell yeah

 

[backcountryislife]

The shorter the track, the harder it is to get around. The shorter the track, the more you need to be on the throttle.

It's a fact that you will have more challenges with a shorter track, on the other hand with some extra HP it equalizes things to an extent. I'm no superbadazz rider, but my little 141 goes where the 153's go every day (EASILY).

Riding a longer track just takes the fun out of it FOR ME. I have ridden every length (174 only on 4 stroke-T I'll admit) and the only lengths I would even consider for a fun sled to ride are 140something & low 150's. The 162's I rode sucked & felt like tanks.

It ALL depends on your priorities, mine is having fun in the air and taking the nastiest lines I can find, my 153 & 156's were fun, but my 141 is more fun.

another thing folks don't think about, the shorter tracks turn out easier/quicker when your line gets off or you know you're not going to make it, it was a factor I hadn't considered, but greatly enjoyed once I had some time on the shorter sled.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Closing in on the kill!




The truth will set you free.

 

[IceCap]

Nice pictures snowhawkaddict!! What's your track length??

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Let see!

Since my last Twoski Ski-Doos a 151" and 144" I've had four 121 inchers and three 136 inch Snow Hawks, the Washington crowd is only now cutting mountain specific 144" and 151" tracks down in width from 15"/16" to 13".

To some going long hampers the agility of the shorter tracks, sad thing is the inquiring potential new rider thinks he needs the length and big HP something they might not be ready for till they learn the basics.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha!

By the way, those pics are some of the UT kids playing, I think Sledr2's up to a 174" on one of his 8Hunnerts, his son's running probably a 144/155. Lots more like them to see in our section, the snowbikes are growing in numbers too, and will be posting pics to crush the ignorance of the narrow minded.

That's where Hawk Fest 5 will be in a few weeks, we're comin for ya Twoski's/COUCHIES!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y80MaQaQDc Just a wittle 120!

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Someone said couch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2lALT8EGy4

 

[Norway]

Ja, it's just rider ability....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF9NwsrHFAE&feature=related

 

[zip-tie-it]

Taking out the variables-
1. Rider skill
2. Style / Preference
3. Terrain / Snow depth and Type (slush, corn, pow, packed, ice, in any mix)
3. Power

These are all things one must learn / find on there own.

The only valid point that holds true in this comparison that I can think of is-----UNLESS YOUR RIDING IN LOW SNOW CONDITIONS YOU BURN MORE FUEL ON A SHORTY THEN A LONGER TRACK SLED ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL. (see above)

-Zip

 

[1wpdn1]

Please keep riding the 144's !!!

Gentleman: I enjoyed reading this hotly debated post! And SnowHawk you have me somewhat convinced that would be a fun toy to add to the trailer!

But Maybe at Age 47 I am too old to master that machine. Unfortunately I have been addicted to snowmobiling since 1968 ( for you old geezers a 323 doo Olympic was a good sled back then)

After spending 40 years chasing snow in Wyoming and the neighboring states I am still amazed that " superior riders" come ride this dry powder on shorter track sleds....Please keep coming! I love watching what happens when you accidently follow our tracks into some of the North side Bowls in the Sierra Madres!

And please save all your tree riding, boondocking stories for the bar. Some off the best tree riders I have ever seen are on 174" tracks on Mod-Nytro's pushing 300HP.

I have an M-8 turbo with a 162 and many days when we ride it is not enough track or power. Yet I encourage you to keep coming to my fine state with your short track sleds. It helps keep you out of danger and more importantly keeps you from accidently finding the really good snow!!! Thanks for letting me voice my opinion.

 

[Slick]

Each to his own, but most everyone will eventually get tired of buggering around on the hardpack, jumping the groomer berms on the way to the good snow, doing $hithooks at the cabin, racing thru the trees in the meadows, jumping off every little cornice they find, totally phukking up any trail that needs breaking uphill in deep snow and drag racing across every lake they come to. When you do, you will then choose to move UP from your 146 and go to a 162 or 3 track that will actually be fun in the deep snow and on the big hills.
If you ride on hardpack all the time it don,t matter.........cause then you don't count.

 

[suva]

I just switched from a 136 to a 156, and it is a lot more fun for me, less time getting unstuck = more ride time = more fun!

Snowhawkaddict- I hope all single ski riders aren't as conceited as you. We're all out there to have fun aren't we? I would own a snowhawk if the used market wasn't so inflated because of egotistical douches like you.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Calm down.

I'm doing you all a favor. Your not even beginning to be too old, come to Hawk Fest and see for your self. Underpriced is more like it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms_9ya8G-Xw

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Face it.

Burnt out sleders ride Hawks!

 

[suva]

Damn the Eagles suck. If Hawkfest was in Lolo again I would take you up on that.

Underpriced? I have yet to find any Snowhawk listed for less than $3K- for a 503. In that price range you can get a rider-forward chassis twoski with a lot more power.

 

[icepole123]

What good is flotation if you cant fit through the trees? You can certainly turn a short sled easier. You have a valid point on being able to stay on top, it is clearly a fine balance. What works for me might not work for you. A small guy won't have the same requirements as a big guy, vice versa

i dont think it really matters your size. just you skill. i mean iam a pretty skinny guy and i can tear the f*** out off my yamaha turbo.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

If Hawkfest was in Lolo again I would take you up on that.

Underpriced? I have yet to find any Snowhawk listed for less than $3K- for a 503. In that price range you can get a rider-forward chassis twoski with a lot more power.

At least your looking, occasionally one gets lucky from another who has no idea the gem they posses.

Power isn't everything the machine closest is a 503F, other an 800HO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY2AttHXiQI&NR=1

 

[Mtn-Track]

All this banter is really useless. As long as everybody carries avy-poles it'll all work out....

The long-track sledders can use them to locate the short-track sleds, and the short-track owners can probe for the surface.

They ALL suck when they're stuck!!!